Game



GAME

Filed April 28, 1939 waz/72;,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to games and involves a board having a playing diagram thereon consisting of a series of lines in parallel spaced relation forming two figure 8s and lines extending trans- 5 versely across the said parallel lines and at the intersection, there being apertures or other means to indicate positions for play pieces and player stations at the opposite arcuate ends of the diagram from which the player may move play pieces in either direction circuitously of the 'diagram from and to the respective station.

It is further an object and feature of the invention to provide a game board having a series of lines in parallel relation in the form of a figure 8 in which the opposite end portions are formed on a radius and these circular portions are connected by a continuation of the parallel lines forming the circular end portions in straight lines which cross each other at a right angle centrally between the circular end portions.

A further object and feature of the invention is involved in the provision of a diagram consisting of two gure 8s each having circular ends and so arranged that an imaginary line passing between the axes of the circular portions of one iigure 8 are at a right angle to an imaginary line extending between the axes of the other figure 8 and with the lines connecting the circular end portions common to both ligure 8 diagrams, there being in association with the parallel lines forming each ligure 8 a series of spaced lines extending transversely thereof and apertures provided at the intersection of the parallel and transverse lines or other means at said intersections to indicate the position for a play piece.

Diagonal lines extending from an aperture or play piece indication in each of the parallel lines to a similar play piece indication in adjacent parallel lines are also utilized to provide an indication for direction of movement of the play pieces, movement of the play pieces being from each player station circuitously of the respective gure 8 diagram back to the station.

These and other objects and novel features of the invention are hereinafter more fully described and claimed and the preferred form and arrangement of parts providing my improved game apparatus is shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a plan View of a game board embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section thereof taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of an alternative form of play piece.

In its preferred form the game board l is square in outline and provided thereon is a diagram which consists of two series of parallel spaced lines in the form of two figure 8s, A and B, arranged at a right angle one to the other with 5 the semi-circular ends connected by parallel lines common to both ligure 8s at a right angle one to the other. The opposite ends of each of the gure Bs are preferably truly circular in form, as shown at 2 2, etc., for the circular ends of l0 one of the ligure 8s and 3 3 for the circular ends of the other.

The circular lines 2 2 of one circular end of diagram A are connected by straight parallel lines 4 4 to theopposite or companion circulal` 15 end and the other circular end of the same ligure 8 are connected by straight parallel lines 5 5 which cross the lines 4 4 at a right angle in the preferred arrangement of the diagrams. These lines 4 4 and 5 5 also connect in a like 20 manner the circular ends of the lines 3 3 of the diagram B. Each of the circular ends of the two ligure s are provided with radial lines 6 6, etc., crossing the circular lines 2 2 in equiangular relation at both ends. At the inter- 25 section of the radial and circular lines I preferably provide apertures l l, etc. The parallel lines 4 4 have transverse lines 8 8 and the parallel lines 5 5 have transverse lines 9 9 extending thereacross at a right angle thereto and 30 apertures 7 7 are also provided at the intern section of the respective lines 8 8 and 9 9 with the lines 4 4 and 5 5 the said lines intersecting at a right angle one to the other.

The player stations provided at a, b, c and d 35 are lines to indicate diierent colors and each of these stations includes the apertures 1 of two adjacent radial lines and the play pieces Ill, which may be of any approved form, are placed in the apertures of the respective player stations 40 and correspond in color to that of the station.

In the circular ends of each of the ligure 8s there is provided diagonal lines Il extending from each aperture l in each of the circular lines to a similar aperture 'l in the adjacent 45 circular line or lines. There are also similar diagonal lines l2 |2, etc., extending at an angle from an aperture in each of the circular lines to an aperture in the outer circular lines. Also in the parallel lines 4 and in the parallel lines 5, 50 which are at right angle one to the other, there are transverse lines 8 for the lines 4 and transverse lines 9 forv the lines 5. There are also diagonallines i3 and lines i4 crossing .at a right angle one kto the other and extending between 55 the apertures at the intersection of the straight lines. These parallel lines 4 and parallel lines 5 and the respective crossing lines 8-8 and 9 9 form small squares and the apertures are much closer togetherin this area of intersection of the two figure 8 diagrams than apertures in the circular end portions thereof and as is hereinafter more fully described this intersecting area provides a congested area of play as the play pieces of all four players must pass through this congested area while in the circular end portions each player may position his play pieces without interference by position of play pieces of the other players.

At the start ,of play the ten play pieces for each player at the stations a, b, c and d are in position in the apertures 1 at the margin of the colored area and the players each play in succession as follows: The player at station b, for instance, may move a play piece from an aperture 'ia to an aperture 'l'b and the next player to the right or left moves a play piece to a desired aperture. For the purpose of illustration arrows adjacent the circular lines show the direction of play for the players of each station but this may be reversed if desired. Having placed the play piece 'ib the station b player, may in his next play, take a play piece from the aperture 1 and jump the play piece 'lb on the line l2 and along line Il to an aperture ld. This movement by jumps may continue if there are succeeding play pieces positioned to permit such character of movement. Each of the players in succession advances the play pieces, for instance from station b around the circular lines and in a direction generally along the lines 5 (wherein other play pieces by other players are positioned as the play proceeds) and thence around the circular rines 2, thence along the lines t and back to the home station b. It is pointed out that a play piece in jumping the play piece at 1b may be positioned in the aperture 'le or in the aperture Tf. The play pieces also may be moved from aperture to aperture and in the play each player advances the play pieces in a right or a left hand direction as may be agreed upon, around the figure 8 diagram in which his home station is positioned and back to the station.

As previously stated by this arrangement of the game board each player is free from interference by the play pieces of the other players in approximately one-half the circular end portion in which the play station is positioned. However, beginning with the intersection of curved lines and throughout the congested area dened by the crc-ss lines 4 5, the position of the play pieces of the other players interfere with the freedom oi movement of the play pieces of each player. Thus there is an area in which there is freedom of movement of the play pieces by the individual player and an area wherein movement of the play pieces by either player is restricted by the positions occupied by the play pieces of the other players and wherein either player may position a play piece to obstruct the play by another player.

The play piece indicated at lll in Figs. l and 2 is merely a suggestion of one form-that may be used it being evident that any form may be used that would seat in an aperture as a marble for instance, and in fact the board may be devoid of Iapertures and a ring or colored spots may be utilized in place of the apertures in which case the play piece, as indicated in Fig. 3, would have a flat base as is the case with the well known game of checkers.

For convenience in playing the game and t0 enable the players to readily see the lines on the board the parallel lines of one of the iigure 8 diagrams may be of a diierent color from that of the other and both of them differing in color from the face of the board. Likewise, if desirable, what I have termed "diagonal lines which are the lines il and l2 extending between apertures in the parallel lines forming iigure 8 diagram may be of a different color than the said parallel lines and the lines diagonally of the squares in what I have termed the congested area centrally of the board may be varied in color from that of either figure 8 diagrams.

Having thus fully described my improved apparatus and the character of game to be played thereby what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A game comprising a game board for a plurality of players, said board having thereon a pair of figure 8 diagrams in crossed relation at a right angle one to the other, each figure 8 diagram being formed of a series of parallel lines having semi-circular end portions and one side of each circular portion being connected by straight parallel lines with the opposite side of the other circular portion, the straight lines of the two diagrams crossing at a right angle centrally between the semi-circular portions, each of the semi-circular end portions being provided with transverse radial lines equi-angularly disposed, and the straight line portions each having ,transverse lines at a right angle one to the other,

there being an indication at the intersection oi the lines forming the diagrams and the other lines for the position oi a play piece in the playing of a game, each of the semi--circular portions at the outermost point providing a player station and including a number of places for positioning of the play pieces for each player at the begin ning of play, angularly disposed lines extending each way from the play piece position in each of the lines forming the gure 8 diagrams to play piece positions in an adjacent line or lines of 'the diagrams and indicating the direction in which a play piece may be advanced from aperture to aperture along the lines forming the diagram or from one line to another of the diagram along the diagonal lines, the arrangement providing or freedom of movement of the play pieces for a distance each way from the player station without interference by the play pieces of other player stations, and the area in which the lines of one of the gure S diagrams intersect with the lines of the other figure 8 diagram providing an area through which the play pieces of each player are required to pass and wherein the movement of the play pieces is subject to interference by play pieces of the other players.

2. A game comprising a board having thereon a series of spaced lines forming two gure 3 diagrams lying at a right angle one to the other,

the lines connecting the arcuate ends of the two diagrams being common to both said diagrams, the circular ends of each of the diagrams having a series of radial lines in equi-angular relationship and the straight line portions of each of the gure Bs having lines extending thereacross at a right angle to the lines dening the diagram, there being apertures in the board at the intersection of the radial lines and the parallel lines and also at the intersection of the lines crossing the straight line portions of the said groups of parallel lines for the positioning of play pieces, each of the ends 0f the circular portions of the diagrams between two adjacent radial lines being colored in a manner to distinguish one from the other and providing a player station in which the play pieces are originally positioned for play in the apertures in the radial lines at the margins of the colored portions, the arrangement permitting the play pieces to be advanced from a player station to the right or left from aperture to aperture along the parallel lines, or from one aperture to a third aperture along the parallel lines in jumping a play piece between apertures, and diagonal lines between the parallel lines in both the circular and straight line portions of the gure 8 diagram, the play being from a player station circuitously of the respective diagram through the opposing player station back to the first station, the circular end portions of the diagrams providing an area of play restricted to play pieces of the respective station and the area wherein the lines of the two figure 8s intersect or coincide providing an area through which the play pieces of all the players must pass in traversing the gure 8 diagram to which movement of the play pieces of each player are coni-ined.

3. A game comprising a game board for four players, the said board having playing diagrams thereon consisting of a pair of gure Ss in crossed relation at right angles one to the other, each igure 8 diagram being formed of a series of parallel lines having semi-circular ends, each side of each of which being connected by straight parallel lines with the respective opposite side of the other end, each of the semicir cular ends outside the crossing area of the two diagrams being provided with transverse radial lines in equi-angular relationship, and the said straight line portions being provided with transverse lines at a right angle to the parallel lines in the area thereof outside the area in which the straight line portions cross each other, there being apertures at the intersections of the crossing lines for the positioning of play pieces, and a series of diagonal lines extending from each aperture in each of the lines forming the diagrams to an aperture forwardly and rearwardly thereof in the adjacent lines of the respective diagram, and a player station at each of the ends of the two ligure 8 diagrams including the series of apertures in adjacent radial lines, said area being distinguished as by color one from the other, the whole providing a board wherein each player may advance a play piece from the respective station to the right or the left without interference from the play pieces of the other players, and the area wherein the lines oi the diagrams intersect providing an area wherein the movement of the play pieces may be restricted by the position of the play pieces oi other players therein.

fi. A game comprising a game board for four players, said board having a playing diagram thereon consisting of two iigure Bs lying at a right angle one to the other, each gure 8 diagram being formed of a series of lines in parallel spaced relation providing circular end portions and straight line portions in crossed relation, and transverse llines extending acrnss the lines forming the figure 8 diagram in the area outside the area in which the straight line portions cross each other, and indications on the diagram for the positioning of a play piece at the intersection of the crossed lines, each of the circular end portions having a player station at the outer end each including two adjacent rows of indications for play piece position.

WALTER J. HOI-1N 

